Impact of BRAF inhibitors on the immune microenvironment in melanoma

VEIGAS, FLORENCIA; MAHMOUD, YAMIL; MORALES, ROSA; GREMEL, GRAZIA; MARIÑO, KARINA VALERIA; MENDEZ-HUERGO, SANTIAGO P.; GATTO, SABRINA; GIROTTI, MARÍA ROMINA; MARAIS, RICHARD; CUTINE, ANABELA; STUPIRSKI, JUAN CARLOS; PEREZ SAEZ, JUAN MANUEL; RABINOVICH, GABRIEL A.

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Sociedades de Biociencias 2017; 2017

Sociedad Argentina de Inmunología

BRAF is mutated in 50% of melanoma patients. BRAF is a component of the RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK pathway and BRAF or MEK inhibitors increase progression-free and overall survival in BRAF- mutant patients. However, most patients relapse with acquired resistance and ~20% of patients present intrinsic resistance. Preclinical and translational studies have shown that targeting the RAS/BRAF/MEK/ERK pathway has effects on the expression of immunomodulatory pathways. Most patients who develop resistance to targeted therapies derive little benefit from anti-CTLA-4 and anti PD-1 based immunotherapies.